Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War casualty, campaign combination group of eight awarded to Sergeant M. McCandlish, Scottish Horse, late Seaforth Highlanders, who was killed in action, 2 September 1915, just hours after landing at Suvla Bay

India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (4167 Pte. M. McCandlish 2d. Bn. Seaforth Highrs.); Queen’s Sudan 1896-98 (4167, Pte: M. McCandlish. 1/Sea: Hrs:); Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Wittebergen (4167 Pte. M. MC’Candlish, 2: Sea: Highrs:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (4167 Pte. M. McCandlish. Seaforth Highrs:) suspension claw re-pinned, with official corrections; 1914-15 Star (431, Sjt. Cook. M. McCandlish, Sco. H.); British War and Victory Medals (431 Sjt. M. McCandlish. Sco. H.); Khedive’s Sudan 1896-1908, 2 clasps, The Atbara, Khartoum (4167 Private M. McCandlish 1st Sea Highrs) generally good very fine (8) £1200-1600

Matthew McCandlish was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and attested for the Seaforth Highlanders at Fort George, Inverness, in January 1892. He served with the 2nd Battalion in India, December 1893 - January 1897, and in South Africa, March 1900 - September 1902. McCandlish was discharged 26 January 1904, having served 12 years with the Colours.

McCandlish re-engaged as a Sergeant Cook for service during the Great War with the 1/3rd Scottish Horse. He served with the Battalion as part of the 1/1st Scottish Horse Brigade in the Gallipoli theatre of war from 1 September 1915. The Regiment landed on C Beach, Suvla Bay from 10pm on 1 September. All three Battalions of the Scottish Horse were caught in shell fire on leaving the beach the following morning. Two officers were wounded, 46 other ranks wounded and three were killed. McCandlish, aged 45 years old, was amongst those killed, and he was buried in Lala Baba Cemetery, Turkey.